Clothes packing bag and carrier



1967 [WAC FURUYA CLOTHES PACKING BAG AND CARRIER Filed Feb. 11, 1964 INVENTOR IVVAO FURUYA ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,295,644 CLUTHES PACKING BAG AND CARREER Iwao Furuya, 1641 Kamitoda Toda-cho, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama-ken, Japan Filed Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 344,88 Claims. (Cl. 190-43) The present invention relates to clothes packing bags and carriers, and particularly to a novel and improved article of this type made from a flexible [plastic sheet and associated hanger means and where the article is adapted to be folded upon itself to provide a compact storage and carrier article for clothing.

Heretofore, there have been various types of clothes packing bags and carriers provided, but nearly all of such articles, insofar as I am aware, have been of a very flimsy construction, or else they have been relatively bulky, stiff and expensive, and have not been adapted to receive clothing articles therein to be stored or carried in compact form.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved clothes packing bag and carrier characterized by the provision of the bag from flexible plastic sheet means, and where the interior of the packing bag is readily available for placing articles therein or taking articles therefrom, and which plastic bag or carrier is also readily adapted to be folded upon itself and provide a pair of hanger means in closely adjcent positions for hanging the carrier upon a support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, but sturdy clothes packing bag that has desirable operative properties.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes packing bag that can easily be secured in a folded position for compact clothes storage and transport action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes packing bag made from re-enforced plastic film material and which clothes packing bag can be completely closed by easily disengaged closure means associated therewith and which will form an attractive, useful article.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a clothes packing bag having top and bot-tom edges with openings formed therein whereby clothes hangers can be received inside the bag but have support means for the clothes hanger extending from the bag, and where the entire bag can be folded upon itself with the hanger means adjacent and with the main portions of the clothes hanger means being received under a special cover sheet provided in the packing bag.

'The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparant as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the structures shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a novel clothes packing bag and carrier, or article, embodying the principles of the invention, which figure shows such article in its folded position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the clothes packing bag and carrier of FIG. 1 in its opened, or lay-out position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the article as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken through the upper end of the article as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the upper end of the clothes packing bag and carrier of FIG. 2, with the coat hanger means therein removed, and with the cover sheet broken away.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawing and referred to in the specification, corre- "ice spending numerials are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

Generally speaking, in one embodiment of the invention, it can be described as relating to a clothes packing bag and carrier comprising an elongate, generally rectangular fiat plastic bag having a front, a back, and closed top and bottom edges, which plastic bag is made from a single sheet of plastic material having the lateral edges thereof overlapping each other on the front of the bag as constructed, which top and bottom edges each have a center opening therein, a coat hanger means received within the plastic bag at both the top and bottom edges thereof, a support portion of each of the hanger means extending through the center opening formed in each of the top and bottom edges of the bag, and a cover sheet secured only at its top and side edges to the upper and lateral margins of the plastic bag and having a slot positioned therein which corresponds to the top edge opening therein so that the plastic bag can be folded upon itself and have the lower of the hanger means positioned under this cover sheet with the support portion of the lower hanger means also extending up through the slot in the cover sheet for convenient storage or support of the clothes packing bag and carrier and any articles therein.

With specific reference to the structure shown in the drawings, a clothes packing bag and carrier of the invention is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. This article, or clothes packing bag and carrier, in general comprises an elongate, generally rectangular normally flat plastic bag 2 that can be made from any suitable material, such as a layer or sheet of flexible, plastic film, usually thermoplastic, for example, a film or sheet made from a vinyl resin composition. The plastic bag 2 has a front 3, a back 4 and closed top and bottom edges 5 and 6, respectively. The plastic bag is primarily made from a single sheet of the plastic material, and the lateral edges '7 and 8 of this single sheet are overlapped slightly on the front of the plastic bag and extend at least substantially the length thereof. As indicated in the drawings, the top and bottom edges 5 and 6 are contoured to engage substantially conventional members, such as coat hanger means, and each of these edges has a substantially centrally positioned opening, or slot 9 and 10, respectively, formed therein. Opening 9 positioned in top edge 5 is formed between top edge 5 and inclined or biased edges 7 and "8 associated therewith as it best illustrated by [FIGS 2 and 5, and opening 10 positioned in the bottom edge 6 is formed as a slot substantially along bottom edge 6, as best seen by FIG. 2. A coat hanger means 11 is shown received in the upper end of the bag 2 and such means is shown to include an elongate, generally substantially oval shape loop or clothes hanging section 12 that is received within the upper end of the bag 2, while a suitable oval shaped handle 13 is provided in this coat hanger means 11 for support action therefor. The handle :13 is normally outside the bag and is pivotally associated with the loop 12 as by a suitable connector means 14 engaged with each of these members and extending therebetween. The lower end of the bag has a different but conventional coat hanger means, indicated by the number 15, provided therein. The coat hanger means 15 is formed from wire and has a conventional hook or support member 16 extending therefrom to pass through the bottom edge opening lit in the bag, as indicated in the drawings.

As another feature of the invention, the drawing clearly shows that a cover sheet 17 is provided on the front 3 of the plastic bag and such cover sheet is only secured to the plastic bag 2 adjacent the lateral margins of the cover sheet 17 and at the upper edge of the cover sheet 17.

FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings show that the front edges 7 and 8 are cut off on a bias at their upper corners, and are loosely associated with the remainder of the bag at these portions of the front of the bag. The cover sheet 17 is positioned in slightly spaced, or loose relationship with the remainder of the front portion 3 of the bag and has slot 9 formed therein slightly below its upper edge. Preferably, the cover sheet 17 is reenforced adjacent its slot 9 as by a small generally oval shaped sheet 18 that is suitably secured to the cover sheet 17 and which sheet 18 itself has a slot 19 to conform to the slot 9 formed therein whereby portions of the reenforcin'g sheet 18 can be secured to the cover sheet 17 below slot 9 and with the top edge of the reenforcing sheet 18 being secured adjacent to the top edge of the bag, and/ or to the upper portion of the cover sheet 17, as best shown in FIG. 4. The opening at the lower end or bottom edge of the bag, likewise, can be suitably reenforced by a sheet 18 that has a horizontally extending slot 19 there in to conform to the slot to prevent any tearing of the material forming the bag 2 at this particular stress area thereof. The sheet 18 also aids in securing the lower ends of the overlapped edges 7 and 8 together.

Preferably the bag 2 also has some type of easily opened closure means provided therefor and thus conventional complementary two-part snap means 20 are shown carried by the edges 7 and 8 of the front 3 of the bag whereby the snap means can either be engaged with each other or be disengaged, as desired, for either opening or closing the bag 2 for receiving articles therein or retaining them in the enclosed portion of the bag. Slide fastener means, or other closures can be used in place of the snap means 20, when desired.

By having only the top and lateral margins of the cover sheet 17 secured to the bag, this article of the invention is adapted to be folded at its center portion and have the lower coat hanger means inserted in under the cover sheet 17 between it and the front 3 of the bag and have the hook or support portion thereof extend up through the slot 9*, as indicated in the drawings. Thus, both of the coat hanger means can be positioned upon a suitable support in any desired manner. A suitable hook 21 is shown pivotally engaged with thehandle 13 of the coat hanger means 11 for engaging it with any desired support means, and this hook 21 can also be adapted to engage the hook 16 on the lower coat hanger means to support both ends of the article 1 upon a desired means, or else the hook 16 can itself be deformed or bent slightly to facilitate support action therefor.

It will be realized that the article of the invention can be made in any suitable manner, but usually it is made from a relatively tough thermoplastic material of any suitable gage and of any desired color or finish design, wherein the various layers or edge portions of the plastic sheets can be heat sealed together by conventional means, or else the edge portions of the bag can be adhesively secured together, when desired. It will be seen that the cover sheet 17 only extends downwardly of the article it a relatively short distance, but yet it will provide an attractive, useful cover means when the bag 2 is folded upon itself and the article 1 is transported or carried in a compact position for clothes storage or transport action. Obviously, the bag 2 can be so constructed and is so made that the front and bag layers or portions thereof can be separated several inches from each other for receiving clothes positioned upon the coat hanger means used in the article. In the actual clothes hanger means 11 as shown, the loop 12 and handle 13 are made from moldable plastic material and secured together by the member 14. In all events, these coat hanger means are removably associated with the bag and can have clothes placed thereon and then the assembly of the clothes hanger means and articles thereon can be inserted into the bag for clean, convenient storage and transport action.

In view of the above, it is believed that the objects of the invention have been realized.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been discolsed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

ll. A clothes packing bag and carrier comprising an elongate generally rectangular flat plastic bag having a front, a back and close-d top and bottom edges, said plastic bag being primarily made from a single sheet of plastic material having edges overlapping each other on the front of said bag, the top and bottom edges of said plastic bag being contoured to engage coat hanger means and each top and bottom edge having a center opening therein,

a coat hanger means received within said plastic bag at both the top and bottom edges thereof, a support portion of each of said hanger means extending through said opening formed in each of said top and bottom edges, and

a cover sheet secured only at its top and side edges to the upper and lateral margins of said plastic bag and having a slot provided therein corresponding to the top edge opening in said bag whereby said plastic bag can 'be folded and have the lower of said hanger means positioned under said cover sheet with the support portion of each of said hanger means also extending through said slot in said cover sheet.

2. A clothes packing bag and carrier comprising an elongate generally rectangular fiat plastic bag having a front, a back and closed top and bottom edges, said plastic bag being primarily made from a single sheet of plastic material having edges overlapping each other on the front of said bag,

snap-engaging closure means secured to said front edges of said bag for removably securing them together, both said topand bottom edges each having a center opening therein,

a hanger means received within said plastic bag on both said top edge and said bottom edge with a support portion of said hanger means extending out through each of said center openings,

a cover sheet secured to said plastic bag at its said top edge and at the upper margins of the side edges thereof but with its lower edge being freely positioned and overlying the front of said bag, said cover sheet having a slot therein which corresponds to said center opening of said top edge whereby said plastic bag can be folded and have the lower of said hanger means positioned under said cover sheet with the support portion of each hanger means also extending through the slot in said cover sheet.

3. A clothes packing bag and carrier comprising an elongate generally rectangular flat plastic bag having a front, a back and closed top and bottom edges, said plastic bag being primarily made from a single sheet of plastic material having edges overlapping each other on the front of said bag,

closure means secured to said front edges of said bag for removably securing them together,

both said top and bottom edges each having a center opening therein,

reenforcing means engaging said bag and extending around the center opening in the bottom edge of said bag,

a hanger means received within said plastic bag on both said topedge and said bottom edge with a support portion of said hanger means extending out through each of said center openings,

a cover sheet secured to said plastic bag at its said top edge and at the upper margins of the side edges thereof but with its lower edge being freely positioned and overlying the front of said bag, said cover sheet having a slot provided therein which corresponds to said center opening of said top edge whereby said plastic bag can be folded and have the lower of said hanger means positioned under said cover sheet with the support portion of each hanger means also extending through the slot in said cover sheet, and

and having a reenforced slot provided therein which corresponds to the top edge opening in said plastic bag whereby said plastic bag can be folded and have the lower of said hanger means positioned under said cover sheet with the support portion of each hanger reenforcing means engaging said bag and extending around the slot in said cover sheet.

4. An article as in claim 3 Where said hanger means include a coat engaging sectional loop, a handle means, and means pivotally engaging both said loop and said 10 handle means and extending therebetween.

means extending through the reenforced slot in said cover sheet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. A clothes packing bag and carrier comprising i 365 X an elongate generally rectangular plastic bag having a 2154630 4/1939 if y front, a back and closed top and bottom edges, said 263172O 3/1953 R my 6 a g 7 plastic bag being primarily made from a single sheet 15 3115959 12/1963 I m of plastic material having its lateral edges overlapa e ping each other on the front of said ba-g, FOREIGN PATENTS a hanger means removably received within said plastic 24 951 3 1947 France bag at both the top and bottom edges thereof, a support portion of each of said hanger means extend- 20 FRANKLIN T, GARRETT, Primary Examiner, ing through an opening formed in each of said top JOSEPH R LECLAIR Examiner and bottom edges, and a cover sheet secured only at its top and side edges to M. L. MINSK, Assistant Examiner.

the upper and lateral margins of said plastic bag 

1. A CLOTHES PACKING BAG AND CARRIER COMPRISING AN ELONGATE GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FLAT PLASTIC BAG HAVING A FRONT, A BACK AND CLOSED TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES, SAID PLASTIC BAG BEING PRIMARILY MADE FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING EDGES OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER IN THE FRONT OF SAID BAG, THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID PLASTIC BAG BEING CONTOURED TO ENGAGE COAT HANGER MEANS AND EACH TOP AND BOTTOM EDGE HAVING A CENTER OPENING THEREIN, A COAT HANGER MEANS RECEIVED WITHIN SAID PLASTIC BAG AT BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES THEREOF, A SUPPORT PORTION OF EACH OF SAID HANGER MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING FORMED IN EACH OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES, AND A COVER SHEET SECURED ONLY AT ITS TOP AND SIDE EDGES TO THE UPPER AND LATERAL MARGINS OF SAID PLASTIC BAG AND HAVING A SLOT PROVIDED THEREIN CORRESPONDING TO THE 